Leveling Subfloor Before Hardwood Installation

When nailing down a wood floor the subfloor should be flat to within 1 4 in 10 or 3 16 in 6.

Leveling subfloor before hardwood installation.

It will also save money down the road with lower maintenance and repair problems. Uneven subfloors cause buckling that can warp edges or kick up an end. If you are installing a locking or floating floor not attached to the subfloor just make sure that the subfloor is clean. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width.

Learn how to use a grinder. Hardwood floors do need a flat subfloor surface in order to prevent them from buckling after installation. Self leveling underlayment products can be used on concrete floors wood subfloors that are uneven but still in decent shape and even over ceramic tile floors eliminating the task of tearing. Use a long level and tape measure to check that the floor is level.

If you have very high or low spots foundation or structural problems or termite damage. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. Hardwood floor installation can be slowed by an uneven subfloor.

Leveling floors can be a diy project or left to professionals. A flat level subfloor saves money upfront by reducing the labor and time it takes to install the hardwood floor. Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet. A level subfloor will help your flooring last longer and keep the finish attractive.

Before installing hardwood floors use a straight edge to find the humps and dips in the subfloor. Creating a flat subfloor involves lowering the high spots and raising the low ones. Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen. It is the responsibility of the flooring installer to assess and address substrate flatness before installation.

Now that your subfloor is level you can proceed to put in hardwood tile laminate or carpet without having to worry about any frustrating gaps or structural imbalances.